Sodajerker On Songwriting

Actor and singer-songwriter Kiefer Sutherland joins Sodajerker for a chat about his new album Bloor Street and his creative process. Kiefer talks about writing from experience, how his acting informs his songwriting, and why he loves to write at his kitchen island.

Singer-songwriter, producer and actor Steven Van Zandt sits down with Simon and Brian in Manchester, UK, for an inspiring conversation about songwriting and arranging, his expansive musical history, and forays into other art forms. The E Street Band guitarist also talks about his creative partnership with Bruce Springsteen, early records with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, and the five cra...

Decorated lyricist Sir Tim Rice chats with Simon and Brian about his writing process and his extraordinary career in musical theatre and film. In this wide-ranging conversation, Tim discusses the business of launching shows like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat , Jesus Christ Superstar , Evita and Chess , his illustrious collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sir Elton John, ABBA's B...

Singer-songwriter LP joins Simon and Brian for a freewheeling conversation about their new album Churches , the art of whistling, collaborating with greats like Dan Wilson and Billy Steinberg, and why they'll never co-write on Zoom.

Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon and John Taylor talk with Sodajerker about their exciting new record FUTURE PAST . During the chat, the pair reflect on the band's creative process, including their approach to groove, tempo and melody, and their recent collaborations with Graham Coxon and Giorgio Moroder.

Tori Amos joins Simon and Brian for a chat about her new record  Ocean to Ocean and her songwriting process. The bewitching singer-songwriter and pianist gives a detailed account of her practice, including the art of following her muses, stocking her sonic pantry, and taking inspiration from Bruce Lee.

Adam Granduciel of The War On Drugs sits down with Simon and Brian to discuss the band's latest record  I Don't Live Here Anymore and how it was shaped and reshaped prior to release. During the conversation, Adam explains his creative process, his experimental approach to recording, and why it's important to have a very well-organised Dropbox.

To celebrate 10 years of the Sodajerker podcast, we sat down for a special tin anniversary Q&A hosted by podcasting megalodon and very nice man Adam Buxton. In this lively ramble chat, we answer listener questions and talk about everything from our favourite guests and their songwriting tips to PR shenanigans, TV's breastfeeding boyfriends and more!

Ricky Ross of Deacon Blue joins Sodajerker to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band's third studio album Fellow Hoodlums . During the chat, Ricky talks about his songwriting process across his career, co-writing with artists like James Blunt, the roots of Scottish soul, and the band's recent creative renaissance.

October 15th 2021 sees the release of a remixed special edition of Let It Be , the final album by The Beatles. To celebrate the occasion, Simon and Brian sat down with the excellent Giles Martin to talk about his work remixing The Beatles at Abbey Road Studios, the songwriting of Lennon & McCartney, his work on Peter Jackson's forthcoming documentary series The Beatles: Get Back , and memories of...

Singer-songwriter James Walsh of Starsailor joins Sodajerker to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band's beloved debut album Love Is Here . During the conversation, James reflects on songs from the now classic album, what he's learned about songwriting over the years, and his experiences co-writing with pop acts.

Legendary songwriter, producer and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham joins Simon and Brian to discuss his fantastic self-titled new album, his Cubist approach to songwriting, and the art of the 'Kevlar chorus'. During the chat, Lindsey touches on his work with Fleetwood Mac, standout tracks like 'Slow Dancing' and 'Holiday Road', and much more. This is a special moment for us, so thanks for listening!

Actor, writer and musician David Duchovny sits down with Sodajerker to discuss the writing of his third album Gestureland . David discusses the collaborative process, similarities with his work in other art forms, and why the recording is not the final word on a song.

Barenaked Ladies frontman Ed Robertson joins Simon and Brian to discuss the writing of the band's latest album Detour de Force as well as classic BNL songs like 'One Week'. In this wide-ranging chat, Ed talks about collaborating with the likes of Kevin Griffin and Donovan Woods, writing in his car, and taking inspiration from everyone from Howard Jones to Eminem.

Rising star Maisie Peters chats with Simon and Brian about the writing of her debut album You Signed Up For This.  The singer-songwriter gives an in-depth account of her process and shares what it's like to collaborate with Ed Sheeran, the value of busking to her career, and the word she chose to remove from the song 'Boy'.

Singer-songwriter Yola talks about the writing of her exciting new album Stand For Myself , collaborating with creative partners like Dan Auerbach and Natalie Hemby, and interacting with the Nashville writing culture.

Will Taylor and Nick Hill of Flyte take a deep dive into the creative process behind the band's excellent new album This Is Really Going To Hurt . The guys explain their approach to collaboration, the importance of simplicity and streamlining, and how songs can retrospectively take on greater significance.

Singer-songwriter MARINA breaks down the songwriting process behind her amazing new album Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land and songs from past eras. MARINA also talks about her experiences writing with teams like Stargate, how her fierce independence informs her creativity, and why it's important to take time out.

Singer-songwriter, musician, actor and podcaster Gary Kemp joins Simon and Brian for a chat about his exciting new album INSOLO , writing mega-hits like 'True', 'Gold' and 'Through The Barricades' for Spandau Ballet, and why he likes to write alone. Gary also shares his thoughts on writing from the head and the heart, the discipline of rhyming, and the importance of storytelling.

Laura Mvula discusses her sparkling new album Pink Noise , teasing out 80's influences, and pushing herself into new musical territories. The Birmingham-born artist shares insights into her career and creative process by talking about life after Sony, working with collaborators like Oli Rockberger, and challenging herself as a singer.

Sharleen Spiteri of Texas chats with Simon and Brian about the band's new album Hi . During the conversation, the singer and guitarist shares insights into her longtime writing partnership with Johnny McElhone, the writing of their many hits, collaborating with Wu-Tang Clan, and how her creativity is enlivened by having synesthesia.

The sensational St. Vincent joins Simon and Brian for a conversation about her fascinating new album Daddy's Home . During the chat, Annie talks about her approach to songwriting, collaborating with the likes of David Byrne and Jack Antonoff, her relationship with the guitar, and the place of music theory in her work.

The multi-talented Moby discusses his latest album Reprise , his love for bedroom studios, and why you'll never find him on holiday. The DJ, producer and songwriter also shares insights into his working routines, the writing of major albums like Play , and strategies for overcoming writer's block.

For this very special 200th episode, Simon and Brian revel in the boundless creativity of musician Jon Batiste . The Late Show bandleader joins Sodajerker from his piano to explain the writing process behind his life-affirming record We Are , how he understands music in terms of frequencies, and what he feels is his superpower as an artist.

Birdy joins Simon and Brian for a chat about her most personal album to date, Young Heart , the art of co-writing, and the influence of Joni Mitchell. Birdy also describes how she challenged herself by going to write in LA and Nashville, and how this helped her to develop her confidence and work through writer's block.